The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1854.11. Lyell suggested that the intermediateness of old fossils may be due to more completion. CUL-DAR205.9.253. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2021. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR205.9 contains notes on palaeontology and geology [regarding theory of evolution].

[253]

Lyell suggested that the intermediateness of old fossils may be due to more completion, as I suggested discovery of Australian ornithorhynchus; but even this implies some belief that all forms are connected; but it appears to me certain that fossils fall more intermediate; always with proviso that they do not fall into actual genera. Best compare the Palæozoic fossils in this respect with ornithorhynchus, Lepidosiren. Hooker thought that intermediateness due wholly to analogy.

Nov. 54 (Geolog.)

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)